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Entertainment

‘Dragon Girl’ Amber Luke says people tell her she’s ‘ruined’ her good looks

An Australian woman who completely transformed herself from a ‘plain’ girl-next-door into a heavily tattooed adult model has revealed how her extreme ink and body modifications have changed her life.

Amber Luke, 27, also known as ‘Dragon Girl’, has spent $250,000 on tattoos, piercings and surgery to achieve her desired look – but says she faces discrimination in public and in the workplace as a result.

She told Brisbane radio show Robin, Terry & Kip last week that having 600 tattoos, which cover 99 per cent of her body, sometimes makes her daily life challenging.

A woman who transformed herself from a 'plain' girl-next-door into a heavily tattooed adult model has revealed how her extreme ink and body modifications have changed her life

A woman who transformed herself from a ‘plain’ girl-next-door into a heavily tattooed adult model has revealed how her extreme ink and body modifications have changed her life

Amber Luke, 27, is pictured here before she spent $250,000 on tattoos, piercings and surgery to become 'Dragon Girl'.  She says she faces discrimination in public and in the workplace because of how she looks

Amber Luke, 27, is pictured here before she spent $250,000 on tattoos, piercings and surgery to become ‘Dragon Girl’. She says she faces discrimination in public and in the workplace because of how she looks

‘I am getting very heavily tattooed, but I’m not harming anyone in the process,’ she told radio hosts Kip Wightman, Robin Bailey and Terry Hansen.

She added that everyone is entitled to their opinion, but she finds it ‘distressing’ when people make unkind remarks in public – especially when they say she has ‘ruined’ her looks with tattoos.

‘Everyone has their own opinions of what beauty is,’ she said. ‘You see these cultures [where people] stretch their necks, their ears, their lips. But at the end of the day, we all are entitled to our opinion and that’s okay.

Amber told Brisbane radio show Robin, Terry & Kip last week that having 600 tattoos, which cover 99 per cent of her body, sometimes makes her daily life challenging

Amber told Brisbane radio show Robin, Terry & Kip last week that having 600 tattoos, which cover 99 per cent of her body, sometimes makes her daily life challenging

‘But, what gets to me is when someone expresses their opinion to me in public and comes up to me and says, “Oh, you’re ugly,” or, “You’ve ruined yourself.”‘

She continued: ‘It’s very distressing to know that people have that strong opinion and they can just voice it without any repercussions.’

Amber also revealed she struggles to find a job because of how she looks.

‘I’m not going to sugar coat it, it has limited my [employment] options but that’s okay,’ she said.

She said everyone is entitled to their opinion, but she finds it 'distressing' when people make unkind remarks in public - especially when they say she has 'ruined' her looks with tattoos

She said everyone is entitled to their opinion, but she finds it ‘distressing’ when people make unkind remarks in public – especially when they say she has ‘ruined’ her looks with tattoos

‘Because the way I see it is, I don’t want to work for a company that’s shallow-minded [and can’t] look past my image.

‘They won’t look at my work ethic, they won’t look at my morals or my values ​​or what I have to bring to the table.’

Amber previously said having so many tattoos and body modifications was ‘worth it’ because she’d learned ‘how resilient I am’ by pushing her body to the extreme.

Amber also revealed she struggles to find a job because of how she looks, saying: 'I'm not going to sugar coat it, it has limited my [employment] options but that's okay'

Amber also revealed she struggles to find a job because of how she looks, saying: ‘I’m not going to sugar coat it, it has limited my [employment] options but that’s okay’

She also said she’d gone into shock and had fits during some procedures, despite not being epileptic.

‘I was 16 when I got my first tattoo. It was a negative energy release. It was a milestone for me,’ she told Studio 10 last month.

She also admitted to getting her tongue split twice, after the procedure didn’t work the first time.

Amber previously said having so many tattoos and body modifications was 'worth it' because she'd learned 'how resilient I am' by pushing her body to the extreme

Amber previously said having so many tattoos and body modifications was ‘worth it’ because she’d learned ‘how resilient I am’ by pushing her body to the extreme

She described the pain as ‘excruciating’ when she had the procedure redone, as the modifier had to cut through scar tissue.

‘The experience I went through made me extremely resilient and so strong. I have gained so much knowledge about anatomy,’ she said.

‘I’ve gone into shock so many times. I’ve had fits – and I’m not epileptic’.

The OnlyFans model once injected blue ink into her eyeballs during an excruciating 40-minute procedure that left her blind for three weeks

The OnlyFans model once injected blue ink into her eyeballs during an excruciating 40-minute procedure that left her blind for three weeks

The OnlyFans model once injected blue ink into her eyeballs during an excruciating 40-minute procedure that left her blind for three weeks.

She has also spent $70,000 on extreme body modifications – including a tongue split, breast augmentation, cheek and lip fillers, pointed implants in her ears and a Brazilian butt lift.

She has previously spoken about her mental health battles, saying that body modifications helped her to become more comfortable in herself.

In 2020, she shared a photo on Instagram of herself at age 18, and wrote: ‘I was so catatonically depressed, suicidal and was a walking dead girl.

She has also spent $70,000 on extreme body modifications - including a tongue split, breast augmentation, cheek and lip fillers, pointed implants in her ears and a Brazilian butt lift.  (Amber is pictured in early 2017 before becoming 'Dragon Girl')

She has also spent $70,000 on extreme body modifications – including a tongue split, breast augmentation, cheek and lip fillers, pointed implants in her ears and a Brazilian butt lift. (Amber is pictured in early 2017 before becoming ‘Dragon Girl’)

‘I was number. I hated myself most of the time – that hatred ran deep. It tormented me.

‘Now, I’ve totally transformed myself into someone I’m proud of being. I’m a strong woman who knows exactly what she wants and who she is.’

In May last year, the former topless waitress for an outlaw bikie gang narrowly avoided jail time despite pleading guilty to drug trafficking.

In May last year, the former topless waitress for an outlaw bikie gang narrowly avoided jail time despite pleading guilty to drug trafficking

In May last year, the former topless waitress for an outlaw bikie gang narrowly avoided jail time despite pleading guilty to drug trafficking

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Categories
Australia

Brisbane blanketed in thick fog, traffic warnings issued and flights diverted

Thick fog that blanketed parts of Brisbane this morning saw flights diverted and traffic warnings issued.

Some incoming domestic flights to Brisbane were diverted to regional airports due to the heavy fog.

Brisbane Airport said five flights were re-diverted to Coolangatta, Mackay and Rockhampton airports.

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By 9am the fog had lifted, with blue skies overhead.

Departing flights from Brisbane were only affected by minor delays.

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The Bureau of Meteorology issued a warning for drivers at 6:30am, saying reduced visibility due to the fog was making road conditions dangerous.

Other parts of the state were also experiencing heavy fog but it also lifted later in the morning.

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Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Shane Kennedy said many Brisbane suburbs woke up to fog.

“Mainly the south-east and also the western suburbs around Ipswich [got] quite thick fog this morning,” he said.

Foggy Southbank with scooters in the foreground and the Wheel of Brisbane behind.
Fog over Brisbane’s Southbank.

Mr Kennedy said there was likely more foggy mornings to come.

“Good chances there will be some morning fog, particularly in the west for the next couple of mornings,” he said.

He said Brisbane airport was “completely clouded in” early in the morning.

“Visibility [was] down around 200 meters at the airport.”

Aerial view of Brisbane CBD covered in fog.
An aerial view of Brisbane CBD shows how extensive the fog is over the city. (Supplied: Australian Traffic Network)

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Categories
Sports

Inside Ash Barty’s secret wedding to long-term love Garry Kissick

Ash Barty is notoriously secretive about her private life but pictures from her intimate Queensland wedding have pulled back the curtain.

The tennis great married her long-term love Garry Kissick in a private ceremony earlier this month, breaking the news on social media on Saturday night.

Captioned ‘Husband and wife’, the pair revealed little about the day they said ‘I do’.

Barty stunned in a Suzanne Harward-designed dress, whose gowns can cost upwards of $10,000.

The pair also tagged the Balter Brewing Company, suggesting the craft brewery provided refreshments for the evening.

Barty’s friends and family kept the news of the nuptials under wraps until the couple posted on social media.

Guests included Australian tennis stars Pat Rafter, Alicia Molik and Casey Dellacqua, according to the Courier Mail.

Kissick popped the question in November last year.

Barty revealed the happy news in an Instagram post, sharing a photo of the couple embracing with an engagement ring visible on her finger.

Barty has, for the most part, kept her relationship with Kissick relatively quiet.

The couple met at the Brookwater Golf Club in 2016. The sporting duo immediately clicked and went public with their relationship in 2017 when they attended the John Newcombe Awards together.

Kissick is an aspiring professional golfer, and works as the irrigation technician for the greens at the Brookwater Golf & Country Club in Brisbane.

The 29-year-old is a passionate Liverpool supporter and part of the PGA Trainee programme.

Read related topics:Ash Barty Brisbane

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Categories
Business

Australian Country Choice: 1500 jobs at risk as company eyes interstate move over development drama

More than 1,500 Queenslanders could lose their jobs as casualties of a heated dispute over a waterfront development in Brisbane.

Queensland meatworks operation Australian Country Choice (ACC) announced it was considering moving its sizeable operations interstate as it fights for the future of its meat processing facility in Cannon Hill.

The family business, led by billionaire Trevor Lee, has launched a legal appeal against the Brisbane council’s decision to approve two businesses in the Rivermakers precinct developed by BMI Group.

The ACC argued the proposed businesses would be located in an industrial buffer zone that prohibits using land for retail or restaurant activities.

The Queensland government intervened in the ongoing dispute between the two heavyweights by placing a temporary injunction on council approvals in the Morningside area, but the ACC said the move didn’t go far enough.

The meatworks business announced on Monday that it was considering moving its operations to NSW as it looked to “assess all viable options for the future”.

“Our preference would be to keep operating from our existing Brisbane premises which are world class, but that requires long-term planning certainty so we can continue making the necessary investment in our current operations and commit to a planned expansion down the track,” an ACC spokesperson said.

The family-run agriculture company is one of the largest primary production employers in the country, with 1,500 employees and plans to create a further 300 jobs.

“Supporting and growing our employee base is a top priority,” the ACC spokesperson said.

“We would prefer these jobs remain in Queensland, but without planning certainty we can’t make a long-term commitment.”

The ACC spokesperson said preliminary discussions are focused on locations in northern NSW for ease of cross-border access.

The Australasian Meat Industry Employees’ Union (AMIEU) said in a statement it was “deeply concerned” by the possible move, noting the meat processing facility had been “an important source of employment” for more than a century.

“If Australian Country Choice is forced to move, the impact upon meat workers and their families will be devastating,” Queensland branch secretary Matt Journeaux said.

The union said the encroachment of the commercial development on the abattoir site presented a serious threat to the “critical industry” of meat processing and the 1000 people employed at the ACC facility.

“It is inevitable that this will lead to complaints about the ongoing operation of the abattoir,” Mr Journeaux said.

“I can’t imagine too many people enjoying an outdoor dining experience in their new lifestyle hub with cattle trucks driving past.”

The AMIEU called on the Brisbane City Council and the state government to provide a long-term commitment to the ACC to allow the company to continue to invest in the abattoir and its employees.

The council has indicated it will abide by the temporary injunction and is working with businesses in the contentious waterfront development to ensure compliance.

The developer of the multimillion-dollar Rivermakers precinct, BMI Group, has been contacted for comment.

The ACC spokesperson confirmed the two businesses were not involved in mediation in relation to the dispute.

Read related topics:Brisbane

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Categories
Business

Developer Cedar Woods shelves Brisbane townhouse project leaving homeowners ‘screwed’

A homeowner who bought into an off-the-plan development in Brisbane, which has now been shelved, has described the development company’s decision as an “absolute joke” claiming that it would leave his family financially “screwed”.

Chris* signed up to buy an $800,000 townhouse last year in the $180 million development called Greville, in the northern suburb of Wooloowin, and was scheduled to move into the new home with his partner and daughter in 2023.

The project was set to deliver around 250 homes, a recreation zone and pool, as well as a community park, and had originally been marketed as an urban village just 5km north of Brisbane’s CBD.

Now, the family has been left angry and upset after Perth-based developer Cedar Woods announced it was delaying the project, blaming rising costs, labor shortages, significant rainfall events in Queensland and extended construction timelines.

Buyers have been given the option to have their deposits refunded and will be offered the first choice when the project is remarketed, according to the developer, which it said hoped would be in the second half of next year.

But Chris claims they are “stuck in no man’s land” because the developer doesn’t have a clause in which they can cancel the contract, a claim Cedar Woods would not comment on.

In a letter to buyers, Cedar Woods proposed that both the developers and buyers agree to “a mutual termination of the contract” as the project would be “indefinitely delayed”.

But so far the family says it has refused to accept the return of their deposit, nor had any responses to other inquiries.

“There’s never been any consultation whatsoever. There was a post on Facebook in April about how they would start (construction), but then the post was deleted and we got phone calls saying everything was cancelled,” Chris told news.com.au.

“Financially, we have been really screwed by Cedar Woods’ decision because now the property prices are still up and we personally don’t think they are going to fail as much as speculators say. Add this to the pressures due to the cost of living going up and interest rates going up, greatly limit our choices.

“We have been looking at similar places and we are not going to get anything for under $1 million for the area.

“We tried to put an offer on a development of four townhouses and the real estate agent basically laughed at us as they are after the mid-$1 million mark for a place with the same square meterage and floor plan similar to what we had bought. ”

Cedar Woods did not respond to a news.com.au’s question on whether the townhouses and apartments would be sold at a higher price once the project was relaunched.

A post on its official Greville Facebook page back in April that said works were under way has now been deleted, but homeowners were left blindsided when the project was shelved just a month later.

“Construction is off to a great start in 2022,” the now deleted post read.

“Despite the weather in southeast Queensland, we are happy to share that civil works on the site are partially complete and construction will begin shortly. It is an exciting time for Greville and we are excited to show you what is to come.”

Chris, who works as a project manager, added that communication had been poor and the couple were “most peeved” that there was “no real consultation” by the company about the decision to shelve the project.

“This decision has majorly impacted people’s lives and they just don’t seem to care,” he said.

Cedar Woods managing director Nathan Blackburne said the firm’s decision was extremely difficult, but it was the right decision in an environment where builders were facing additional risks.

“We know purchasers are disappointed and (we) have apologized to them. We greatly appreciate the understanding of our purchasers who in the main are aware of the current conditions,” he said.

Extended construction time frames and increased costs had meant that the particular stages could not proceed as completion wasn’t possible by specified completion time frames, I added.

“Cedar Woods has continued to engage with the affected purchasers and provide opportunities for further discussion while prioritizing the return of their deposit,” he said.

“The company hopes to re-engage with them when conditions in the sector are expected to improve over financial year 2023.”

But for Chris and his partner, who are in their mid-30s, their “huge” excitement about owning the townhouse has turned into a nightmare.

“We are tossing up if we have to move further out of town away from family, friends, work and childcare, which would make life more inconvenient, but that’s one of the only options we have,” he said.

“Cedar Woods made a decision to protect shareholders and their bottom line as they are a business and I get that, but the impact that it will have on our family and other families out there is not insignificant.”

Meanwhile, work is still continuing on the project site, which has left buyers furious with many lashing out at the developer on Facebook.

“Cedar Woods is continuing to finalize all of the civil construction, remediation work of the historical laundry and the delivery of the community park in preparation for the project to come back to market,” Mr Blackburne said of the continued works.

Australia’s construction crisis

It’s not the first project to be suffered this month in Australia’s embattled construction industry.

Perth developer Sirona Urban killed off a $165 million luxury tower, where more than 50 per cent of apartments had been bought off the plan, blaming skyrocketing construction costs and shortages.

Owner Matthew McNeilly said construction costs had risen by 30 per cent in the past 10 months.

Then there was a Melbourne developer that abandoned plans to build a $500 million apartment tower on the Gold Coast, blaming the crisis in the building industry and surging construction costs for making the project unprofitable.

The development by Central Equity was set to kick off this year featuring 486 apartments in a 56-storey tower, known as Pacific One, and was due to be built on a beachfront block in Surfers Paradise.

Apartments had been sold with a starting price from $650,000 each.

Overall, the construction industry has been plagued with a spate of collapses caused by a perfect storm of supply chain disruptions, skilled labor shortages, skyrocketing costs of materials and logistics, and extreme weather events.

Earlier this year, two major Australian construction companies, Gold Coast-based Condev and industry giant Probuild, went into liquidation.

Then there have been smaller operators like Hotondo Homes Horsham – a franchisee of a national construction firm – which collapsed earlier this month affecting 11 homeowners with $1.2 million in outstanding debt.

It is the second Hotondo Homes franchisee to go under this year, with its Hobart branch collapsing in January owing $1.3 million to creditors, according to a report from liquidator Revive Financial.

Snowdon Developments was ordered into liquidation by the Supreme Court with 52 staff members, 550 homes and more than 250 creditors owed just under $18 million, although it was partially bought out less than 24 hours after going bust.

Others joined the list too including Inside Out Construction, Solido Builders, Waterford Homes, Affordable Modular Homes and Statement Builders.

*Name withheld for privacy reasons

Read related topics:BrisbaneCost Of Living

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Categories
Business

RLB forecasts emerging construction cost inflation will ease in 2023

The rate at which construction costs are soaring – contributing to a spate of high-profile building company collapses – will ease next year, according to new forecasts from global consultancy firm RLB.

Construction cost inflation in Melbourne is forecast to halve, dropping from 8 per cent this year to 4 per cent in 2023, and in Sydney it is predicted to slow from 6.9 per cent to 3.9 per cent.

An even bigger decline is forecast for the Gold Coast with cost growth dropping from 11.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent. Similarly, in Brisbane it should drop from 10.5 per cent this year to 5.1 per cent in 2023, according to forecasts published this week in RLB’s second quarter 2022 International Report.

RLB research and development director Domenic Schiafone said the expectation that costing will ease through next year was due to curtailing demand, likely to be caused by inflationary pressures.

“This easing of demand should allow manufacturing and logistics to get back to ‘normality’ or pre-Covid levels,” he said.

“The easing of demand should also see a softening of material prices with the high level of ‘demand-led price premiums’ reducing.”

Association of Professional Builders co-founder Russ Stephens, whose clients are residential home builders, agreed to escalate costs could halve next year, but off a much higher base.

He said the cost to build a residential home had increased a lot more than non-residential or commercial builds due to the larger percentage of timber used, and that temporary price hikes created by supply and demand were not reflected in the reports we were seeing.

Australia’s typical house build cost has soared more than $94,000 in 15 months, according to figures revealed in analysis by the Housing Industry Association and News Corp Australia earlier this month.

The national inflation rate hit 6.1 per cent in the year to June with new dwellings and automotive fuel the most significant contributors, new figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics this week showed. New dwellings were up 20.3 per cent.

Warning to Australians wanting to build

While construction cost inflation is expected to ease sometime next year, in the meantime the pain will continue.

Mr Stephens said because costs were increasing so quickly, consumers needed to be aware prices quoted for builds would not last long.

“If they’ve had a price quoted that is older than 30 days they should expect to have that price renegotiated,” he said.

He also said consumers would see more builders including rise and fall clauses, also known as cost escalation clauses, in contracts.

“It gives the ability for a builder to pass an increase in cost of materials on to the consumer,” Mr Stephens explained, adding it was common in other countries but Australia didn’t typically use them.

“What I would say to consumers is that’s not necessarily a negative thing because if the builders don’t put those clauses in they’ll have to put more contingency in to the price to protect themselves against potential increases.

“So rise and fall clauses are probably a good thing for consumers because it means they will only pay the cost of the increase rather than an inflated prediction of what increases might be, especially as we’re seeing evidence now that the increases will start to slow down next year.”

Factors contributing to the construction industry crisis

The construction industry is facing challenges so great that high-profile building companies are dropping like flies.

Mr Schiafone said fragmented supply chain issues were not resolved and labor shortages across the nation have continued as a result of the pandemic.

The consultancy’s report noted lead times for some products from overseas were currently

16 to 20 weeks, when traditionally they were half that at eight to 10 weeks.

Additionally, the need for construction labor and materials after recent flood damage will enhance existing shortages across the country, he said.

Mr Schiafone said higher fuel prices, increasing power costs and timber shortages were all symptoms of the war in Ukraine and were likely to linger for some time yet.

RLB global chairman Andrew Reynolds said significant cost escalation, global delivery uncertainty, aberrant weather events causing significant construction delays, and labor shortages were common challenges in the industry across the world.

Failed building companies

The latest company to collapse was prominent Melbourne apartment developer Caydon earlier this week, blaming “one difficult market situation after another”.

The next day, on Wednesday, ASX-listed developer Cedar Woods shelved a major inner-city Brisbane townhouse and apartment project due to rising costs and delays.

It came less than a week after Perth developer Sirona Urban killed off a $165 million luxury tower, where more than 50 per cent of apartments had been bought off the plan, blaming skyrocketing construction costs and labor shortages.

It was the second major apartment project to fall over in Australia last week.

A Melbourne developer, Central Equity, abandoned plans to build a $500 million apartment tower on the Gold Coast, blaming the crisis in the building industry and surging construction costs for making the project unprofitable.

Earlier this year, two major Australian construction companies, Gold Coast-based Condev and industry giant Probuild, went into liquidation.

The grim list has continued to grow from there as a number of other high-profile companies also collapsed, including Inside Out Construction, Dyldam Developments, Home Innovation Builders, ABG Group, New Sensation Homes, Next, Pindan, ABD Group and Pivotal Homes.

Others joined the list too including Solido Builders, Waterford Homes, Affordable Modular Homes and Statement Builders.

Then two Victorian building companies were further casualties of the crisis, having gone into liquidation at the end of June, with one homeowner having forked out $300,000 for a now half-built house.

Hotondo Homes Horsham, which was a franchisee of a national construction firm, collapsed a fortnight ago affecting 11 homeowners with $1.2 million in outstanding debt.

It is the second Hotondo Homes franchisee to go under this year, with its Hobart branch collapsing in January owing $1.3 million to creditors, according to a report from liquidator Revive Financial.

Meanwhile, a Sydney family face never being able to build their dream home after their builder Jada Group collapsed in March owing $2.4 million and the cost of their home’s construction jumped to $1.9 million, a whopping $800,000 more than the original quote.

Snowdon Developments was ordered into liquidation by the Supreme Court with 52 staff members, 550 homes and more than 250 creditors owed just under $18 million, although it was partially bought out less than 24 hours after going bust.

Dozens of homeowners and hundreds of tradies were left reeling after a Victorian building firm called Langford Jones Homes went into liquidation on July 4 owing $14.2 million to 300 creditors.

News.com.au also raised questions about NSW builder Willoughby Homes, which is under investigation by the Government after builds stalled and debts blew out to 90 days.

There are between 10,000 to 12,000 residential building companies in Australia undertaking new homes or large renovation projects, a figure estimated by the Association of Professional Builders.

– with Sarah Sharples

Read related topics:Cost Of Living

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Categories
Sports

casualty ward, injuries, Jackson Hastings, Tigers, Nick Meaney, Storm, Lindsay Collins, HIA, head knock, Roosters, Luke Brooks, Wests Tigers, Jaome Luai, Penrith Panthers, return dates

The Tigers will be without Jackson Hastings for the rest of the season after he suffered an ugly leg break against the Broncos.

Hastings had his leg caught under him in an ugly tackle that saw Broncos forward Patrick Carrigan placed on report for a hip drop tackle.

Scans confirmed a broken leg for Hastings who will undergo surgery that rules him out for an extended period.

Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

Meanwhile, the Eels have copped a massive blow in their hunt for the top four with star halfback Mitchell Moses reportedly suffering a broken finger.

Brent Read told Triple M that Moses will be ruled out for at least a month after suffering in the injury in last night’s win over the Panthers. Moses appeared to injure his finger at him in the 31st minute, and had it strapped by a physio shortly afterwards, but managed to finish the match.

Moses will reportedly undergo surgery and could miss the remainder of the regular season.

COWBOYS LOSE FLYER TO HAMSTRING INJURY

The Cowboys will be sweating on a hamstring injury to winger Kyle Feldt after he limped off in their 34-8 win over the Dragons.

STORM FULLBACK CRISIS WORSENS

Meanwhile, the Storm’s outside back injury crisis has worsened with replacement fullback Nick Meaney going off against the Warriors with a shoulder injury.

Meaney fell on the point of his shoulder from a great height after he was taken out in the air by Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.

“He fell awkwardly and I wouldn’t be surprised if he has quite a significant AC joint injury the way that shoulder came down right on the point,” Warren Smith said on Fox League.

“Melbourne in all sorts of problems here. They were chasing Reece Walsh to be a fullback.

“Tyran Wishart will come on and play fullback now after they already lost Ryan Papenhuyzen for the season.”

Nick Meaney suffered a shoulder injury.Source: FOX SPORTS

Coach Craig Bellamy was hopeful after the game that it wasn’t a serious injury and revealed there are some positive signs.

“He’s done something to his right shoulder but I don’t think we’re quite sure of what he’s done,” he said.

“It looked pretty dire when he came off, he obviously had the sling on. But it’s looking a bit better at the moment, they don’t think it’s quite as bad as what they thought it was at the start.”

In the same game, Warriors five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita succumbed to a leg injury in the first half and left the field.

“We’re thinking it’s an MCL… he’ll have scans to see the extent of the injury. But our medical officer said it’s an MCL injury,” interim coach Stacey Jones said after the game.

Brain fade gives Niche a golden moment | 00:51

ROOSTERS STAR SUFFERS UGLY CONCUSSION

Roosters prop Lindsay Collins has suffered a nasty head knock, colliding with the head of Morgan Boyle.

Collins bounced out of the tackle, knocking himself unconscious before leaving the field with the assistance of the club doctor and trainer.

The 26-year-old was one of three players who left the field in the first four minutes of the Origin decider and was playing his first game since the blow, spending two weeks sidelined due to ongoing concussion symptoms.

“I fear for Lindsay here, he went straight down… he has copped both head and shoulder, that is incredibly heavy on Lindsay Collins,” Andrew Voss said.

“You could see the contact,” Greg Alexander said.

“That is worrying for a player that is only returning this round because of concussion.”

Fox League’s James Hooper confirmed Collins would not return to the field in Round 20.

“Category 1 concussion, his night is over,” Fox League’s James Hooper said.

PANTHERS’ INJURY UPDATE

The Panthers have copped a significant blow with star five-eighth Jarome Luai expected to be sidelined for up to six weeks.

The club confirmed the timeline on Thursday and revealed that Luai had suffered a high grade MCL injury.

Penrith also revealed that Mitch Kenny (knee) and Stephen Crichton (ear/concussion) could return next week.

“I can do it all!” Foxx delivers try | 00:39

TIGERS’ BIG BLOW

Luke Brooks will miss Round 20 and likely the rest of the season after suffering a calf injury at training.

The Wests Tigers confirmed on Thursday that Brooks will be out for five to six weeks with Jock Madden the man expected to replace him in the halves.

The Tigers also revealed Luke Garner is a good chance of returning from a neck injury in Round 21, Stefano Utoikamanu has commended a running program after undergoing wrist surgery and Tommy Talau will return to full team training over the next month.

Read on for the full NRL casualty ward.

ROUND 20 INJURIES

Lindsay Collins (head knock) – TBC

Nick Meaney (shoulder) – TBC

Chanel Harris-Tavita (knee) – TBC

Mitchell Moses (finger) – Finals

Adam Elliott (hip) – TBC

Jackson Hastings (leg) – season

Kyle Feldt (hamstring) – TBC

FULL CASUALTY WARD

BRONCOS

Selwyn Cobbo (concussion) – Round 21

Albert Kelly (foot) – Round 21

TC Robati (arm) – Round 21

Te Maire Martin (ribs) – indefinite

Herbie Farnworth (biceps) – indefinite

Jordan Pereira (illness) – indefinite

raiders

Adam Elliott (hip) – TBC

James Schiller (ankle) – Round 21

Jordan Rapana (suspended) – Round 21

Semi Valemei (knee) – Round 21

Harry Rushton (jaw) – Round 25

Trey Mooney (ankle) – indefinite

Jarrod Croker (shoulder) – season

Josh Hodgson (knee) – season

Harley Smith-Shields (knee) – season

BULLDOGS

Paul Alamoti (cheekbone) – Round 21

Corey Allan (groin) – Round 22

Ava Seumanufagai (calf) – Round 22

Corey Waddell (suspension) – Round 25

Luke Thompson (concussion) – indefinite

Jack Hetherington (shoulder) – season

Billy Tsikrikas (knee) – season

Raymond Faitala-Mariner (ribs) – Round 21

Braith perplexed by Finucane ban | 05:15

SHARKS

Dale Finucane (suspension) – Round 22

Royce Hunt (shoulder) – indefinite

Jack Williams (shoulder) – season

Sione Katoa (pectoral) – season

TITANS

Joe Vuna (knee) – indefinite

Shallin Fuller (leg) – season

BE EAGLES

Sean Keppie (shoulder) – Round 21

Ben Trbojevic (head knock) – TBC

Tom Trbojevic (shoulder) – finals/World Cup

Karl Lawton (knee) – season

Morgan Boyle (ankle) – indefinite

STORM

Nick Meaney (shoulder) – TBC

Jack Howarth (shoulder) – Round 21

Will Warbrick (quad) – Round 21

Tepai Moeroa (shoulder) – Round 21

Brandon Smith (suspended) – Round 21

Xavier Coates (ankle) – Round 22

Trent Loiero (back) – indefinite

Ryan Papenhuyzen (knee) – season

Reimis Smith (pectoral) – season

Christian Welch (Achilles) – season

George Jennings (knee) – season

KNIGHTS

Kalyn Ponga (concussion) – indefinite

Kurt Mann (quad) – Round 21

Bradman Best (thumb) – Round 22

Lachlan Fitzgibbon (shoulder) – indefinite

Chris Vea’ila (leg) – indefinite

Bailey Hodgson (elbow) – season

Dylan Lucas (pectoral) – season

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COWBOYS

Kyle Feldt (hamstring) – TBC

Jordan McLean (hamstring) – Round 24

Mitch Dunn (knee) – season

Heilum Luki (knee) – season

EELS

Haze Dunster (knee) – season

Ray Stone (knee) – season

Mitch Moses (finger) – Finals

PANTHERS

Eddie Blacker (hamstring) – Round 21

Mitch Kenny (knee) – Round 21-22

Stephen Crichton (ear/concussion) – Round 21

Kurt Falls (leg) – Round 21

Mavrik Geyer (thumb) – Round 21

Jarome Luai (knee) – Round 25-finals

Nathan Cleary (suspension) – Finals

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RABBITOHS

Peter Mamouzelos (wrist) – Round 24

Hame Sele (hamstring) – Round 25

Michael Chee Kam (thumb) – Round 25

Campbell Graham (cheekbone) – indefinite

Liam Knight (knee) – season

Jacob Host (shoulder) – season

Jed Cartwright (hamstring) – TBC

Taane Milne (hand) – Round 21

dragons

Cody Ramsey (knee) – Round 22

Jayden Sullivan (shoulder) – Round 23

Mikaele Ravalawa (hamstring) – Finals

Moses Suli (ankle) – Finals

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ROOSTERS

Siosiua Taukeiaho (cheekbone) – Round 21

Lindsay Collins (concussion) – TBC

Billy Smith (knee) – season

Sitili Tupouniua (knee) – season

Renouf Atoni (knee) – indefinite

WARRIORS

Chanel Harris-Tavita (knee) – TBC

Bayley Sironen (eye socket) – Round 21

Ben Murdoch-Masila (elbow) – Round 24

Aaron Pene (ilness) – Round 21

Jack Murchie (staff) – Round 21

Jesse Arthars (quad) – Round 22

TIGERS

Luke Garner (neck) – Round 21

Tommy Talau (knee) – Round 21

Stefano Utoikamanu (wrist) – Round 24

Luke Brooks (calf) – Round 24

Jackson Hastings (leg) – season

Alex Twal (concussion) – season

Shawn Blore (ACL) – season

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Categories
Business

Australian house prices fall at ‘fastest rate’ since 2008 financial crisis

House prices in Australia are dropping at their fastest pace since the global financial crisis — and market conditions are “likely to worsen” as interest rates continue to rise, according to property analytics firm CoreLogic.

The latest data shows that the nation’s median property value has dropped by 2 per cent since the beginning of May, to $747,182 (a figure which includes houses and apartments).

“Although the housing market is only three months into a decline … the rate of decline is comparable with the onset of the global financial crisis (GFC) in 2008, and the sharp downswing of the early 1980s,” said CoreLogic’s research director Tim Lawless.

But he noted that, on average, prices had jumped 28.6 per cent from mid-2020 (the low point of the housing market during the COVID-19 pandemic) to April 2022 (when national prices hit their peak).

Regional Australia had an even bigger surge, with prices up 41.1 per cent in two years — as smaller towns outside the capital cities experienced a huge influx of city-dwellers seeking better lifestyles (as working remotely became the new normal).

“In Sydney, where the downturn has been particularly accelerated, we are seeing the sharpest value falls in almost 40 years.”

A table showing that Australia's median property price dropped 1.3 per cent in July 2022 to $747,812.
Property prices in Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart fell sharply in July.(CoreLogic)

The median price in Australia’s most expensive city fell by 2.2 per cent in July (taking its quarterly loss to 4.7 per cent). Despite that, an average house in Sydney still costs around $1.35 million, while an average unit may fetch about $806,000.

Melbourne and Hobart also recorded steep falls, with prices in both cities down 1.5 per cent last month, while Canberra prices dropped 1.1 per cent.

Prices in Brisbane and regional Australia fell 0.8 per cent (their first monthly decline since August 2020).

At the other end of the spectrum, Darwin, Adelaide and Perth were the only capitals where prices actually went up in July (by between 0.2 and 0.4 per cent). However, it has been a sharp slowdown since May, when the Reserve Bank began to aggressively lift the cash rate from its record low levels.

short and sharp

“I think this downturn will be similar to the global financial crisis in that it will be quite short and sharp,” Mr Lawless told ABC News.

Australia’s median property price fell by around 8.5 per cent over an 11-month period during the GFC, according to CoreLogic.

Line graph showing Adelaide property prices jumped 3.6 per cent in the past three months, while Sydney prices fell 4.7 per cent.
Adelaide property prices jumped 3.6pc in the past three months.(CoreLogic)

Mr Lawless said the property downturn is “accelerating”, and that he would not be surprised if “the current decline gets worse than what we saw during the GFC”.

He noted the main difference is that governments and central banks are currently determined to withdraw trillions of dollars worth of stimulus, in a desperate bid to lower inflation (instead of pumping it into the global economy, liked they did after the 2008 crisis).

Many analysts are predicting Australian property prices, on average, will fall between 10 and 20 per cent (from peak to trough) — with the two most expensive cities Sydney and Melbourne likely to suffer the biggest declines.

But even if the worse case scenario eventuates, it will not drastically improve housing affordability.

“If we saw say, a 15 per cent drop in national housing values, it would take prices back to where they were in about April 2021.”

How quickly (and by how much) prices fall will depend on how aggressively the RBA decides to lift its cash rate target in the next few months.

Graph showing that house rents have risen sharply in every capital city, with Brisbane jumping 13.6 per cent in the past year.
Brisbane and Adelaide tenants are experiencing the sharpest rent increases.(CoreLogic)

Since May, the RBA has lifted its cash rate target from 0.1 to 1.35 per cent.

If the central bank delivers another double-sized rate hike on Tuesday (0.5 percentage points), as widely expected, that would bring the new cash rate up to 1.85 per cent.

Buyers’ market and surging rents

“The market has moved to being very much more in favor of buyers over sellers now, especially in markets like Sydney and Melbourne,” Mr Lawless said.

“Buyers are getting back in the driver’s seat. They have more choice, and there’s less urgency.

“But for sellers, it means they need to be much more realistic about their pricing expectations, and they should expect there’s going to be more negotiation.”

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Categories
Sports

Richmond edges Brisbane Lions in AFL thriller as Essendon, Gold Coast record wins

Richmond has surged from 42 points behind to secure a remarkable victory over the Brisbane Lions at the MCG.

In Sunday’s other matches, Gold Coast beat West Coast by three points, while Essendon defeated COVID-ravaged North Melbourne by eight goals.

After conceding the first six goals to be down for most of the clash against the Lions, the Tigers grabbed the lead at the 16-minute mark of the final quarter.

Both sides traded blows for the dying stages, with veteran Mitch Robinson missing a gilt-edged opportunity to put the Lions back in front after earning a free-kick from 15 meters out.

A calamitous error from defender Darcy Gardiner allowed returning Tigers star Tom Lynch to nail his fourth goal and the matchwinner in the final minute.

The Tigers ended a three-match winless run to win 15.14 (104) to 14.13 (97) in Shane Edwards’ 300th senior appearance.

Importantly for Richmond, it gives the ninth-placed Tigers a huge shot at playing finals this year with a favorable last three matches of the season.

But for the Lions it is a major blow to their top-four aspirations and any confidence they would have gained out of a first win at the MCG since 2014.

Chris Fagan’s team had lost 10 straight matches at the venue heading into the match but appeared to be on track to end the hoodoo after producing a hot start.

They led by 42 points during the second term and still held a six-goal buffer at half-time.

But Richmond produced scintillating football reminiscent of their premiership era, largely thanks to Shai Bolton, Lynch and emerging youngster Noah Cumberland.

After playing on last week as the siren went and Richmond drew with Fremantle, Cumberland stepped up with a career-best five-goal haul in a breakout performance.

Cumberland kept the Tigers in the contest early, kicking their first three goals as the Lions piled on majors from the other end.

Richmond co-captain Dylan Grimes was left devastated after hurting his hamstring in the third quarter.

Lions dynamo Zac Bailey was sent for scans on a chest injury after being subbed out in the second quarter, bringing ruckman Darcy Fort into the match.

The Lions were rocked before the match when in-form defender Brandon Starcevich withdrew due to quad tightness, with former Geelong utility Nakia Cockatoo the replacement.

The Tigers travel to face Port Adelaide next Saturday night, while the Lions are back at the Gabba to take on Carlton on Sunday.

Stringer fires for Bombers

An Essendon AFL player celebrates kicking a goal.
Jake Stringer was impressive with a five-goal haul against the Kangaroos.(Getty Images: Daniel Pockett)

Jake Stringer kicked five goals to help Essendon to a 48-point win over North Melbourne.

The Bombers posted their highest score of the year in the 17.12 (114) to 9.12 (66) victory at Docklands, making it five wins from their past seven matches,

Stringer was busy early, igniting Essendon with three first-quarter goals.

And though his scoreboard impact cooled through the middle stages, his influence on the match was telling.

I have finished with 14 disposals, six tackles and a match-high 11 score involvements.

Stringer kicked 5.3 — just one goal shy of a career-best tally — including two majors from four shots in the final term.

The Kangaroos dominated clearances (42-22) and had more inside-50s than their opponents in the first three quarters but were far less efficient going forward.

Cam Zurhaar was a threat in attack for the Kangaroos, finishing with four goals, but spearhead Nick Larkey (0.3) struggled with poor delivery and was held goalless by Brandon Zerk-Thatcher.

Jy Simpkin (40 disposals), Jaidyn Stephenson (32) and Luke Davies-Uniacke (23) worked hard in a losing cause.

Essendon was best served by Zach Merrett (37 disposals, eight clearances), Mason Redman (32 disposals) and Nick Hind (22), while tall swing-man James Stewart played forward and kicked three goals — his first scores in two years.

Already hit hard by COVID-19, North Melbourne lost Lachie Young and Jack Mahony as late withdrawals before the bounce.

The pair joined teammates Aidan Corr, Paul Curtis and Aaron Hall on the sidelines through virus protocols.

Essendon also suffered a late blow when Dylan Shiel was ruled out with a hamstring issue.

Suns Edge Eagles

A Gold Coast AFL player takes an aerial mark over a West Coast opponent.
Mabior Chol played a starring role in the Suns’ triumph.(AAP: Jono Searle)

A career-best five-goal haul by Gold Coast’s Mabior Chol in his 50th AFL match has secured the Suns a vital win over West Coast.

The home side held off the fast-finishing Eagles to keep their slim finals hopes alive, Mal Rosas Jnr’s sealer with 15 seconds to play securing the 16.11 (107) to 16.8 (104) win at Metricon Stadium.

The Eagles kicked seven goals to three in the final term to nearly pinch the win, having trailed by 31 points early in the fourth quarter.

Chol scored five goals while livewire small forward Izak Rankine had three majors, with Rosas and Jeremy Sharp kicking two each for the Suns.

Jack Darling kicked an equal career-best six goals for the Eagles, with Jack Petruccelle ending with three and Liam Ryan and Jack Redden two apiece.

Suns co-captain Touk Miller was again the best performer for the hosts with 31 disposals, 16 clearances and 10 tackles.

West Coast rookie Jai Culley had a day to forget, elbowing Suns midfielder Noah Anderson in the head in the second quarter and then limping off in the fourth with a hamstring injury.

The Eagles started brightly with Darling and Jack Redden kicking the visitors to an early lead before the Suns fired back with five unanswered goals to be 16 points clear at the first break.

West Coach coach Adam Simpson would’ve rolled his team bombing a couple of good chances to score, with Ryan and Connor West guilty.

Gold Coast extended their lead to 37 points when Sharp kicked the Suns’ 10th in the second term, before Ryan’s running goal cut the margin to 30 at the main break.

Culley added to the Eagles’ woes with the elbow on Anderson which will almost certainly catch the eye of the Match Review Officer.

Two goals to Darling and another by Petruccelle reduced the margin to 13 points as the Eagles came out of the sheds firing for the third term.

Anderson’s clever pick-up and carry before finishing settled the hosts, with Sharp capping some good work by Rankine to keep the Eagles at arm’s length heading into the final quarter.

Rankine was denied a fourth by ARC after a sensational snap from the boundary was ruled to have shaved the post.

That ruling didn’t cost the Suns, however, with Chol slotting his third after the siren after a hanger of a mark to make the margin 25 points at the end of the third quarter.

Chol and Darling traded goals at the start of the final quarter before an athletic mark on the behind line by Ryan allowed the livewire Eagles forward to kick his second and keep the visitors in the hunt.

Darling’s sixth of the day cut the margin to 13 points before Petruccelle kicked his third on the run to put the contest on a knife’s edge.

When Redden soccered through at the back of a pack from close range, Gold Coast’s lead had been whittled to just two points with little more than eight minutes to play.

Chol’s fifth gave the Suns breathing space after Jake Waterman kicked a shot straight into the player on the mark, in costly miss for the Eagles.

Waterman cut the margin to less than a goal with under a minute left but Rosas’ finish ensured Eagle Jamaine Jones’ effort on the siren was mere consolation.

ladder

AAP/ABC

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